(Deming) – Deming students in kindergarten through sixth grade were recognized for their outstanding writing efforts during the 2014 Literacy Showcase Thursday evening. The Literacy Showcase was sponsored by the Gila Council, International Reading Association and Deming Public Schools. The Special Events Center was packed with students and their family members who were treated to a bilingual presentation by guest speaker Joe Hayes prior to the awards ceremony. Hayes is an award-winning author and nationally recognized teller of tales from the Hispanic, Native American and Anglo cultures. Currently residing in Santa Fe, Hayes spent the week appearing at various schools in the district prior to Thursday’s event. The students, representing each school in the district and each grade at the school, were then called onto the stage by name and presented with a medal in recognition of their selected writing. The winning writings from each school will be bound into a book which students and their families can purchase.

(Deming) – Here’s the area crime report: Jose Chacon, age 22, was arrested for DUI, driving while license was suspended or revoked, on a failure-to-stop driving violation and on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines… Anna Lopez, age 24, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation… Jason Torrez, age 30, of Santa Clara, was arrested on a District Court warrant for a probation violation… Victoria Martinez, age 24, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines and on a Lincoln County warrant for failure to pay fines… Nestor Varela, age 57, of Columbus, was cited for having an open container, having an expired driver’s license, no registration and no insurance… and Marc Bankole, age 27, of Albuquerque, was cited for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Also, a check belonging to a resident living off West Spruce was forged for over $700… and a surveillance camera valued at $200 was taken from a residence off North Zinc.

(Deming) – A Luna County woman was transported to the hospital following a one-vehicle accident Thursday. 55-year-old C.A. Jones suffered back and neck injuries in the accident that occurred just after 1 p.m. in the 11000 block – or extension – of Hermanas Grade. Jones was travelling north on Hermanas Grade when she lost control of her Ford Escort and landed in a ditch. Jones told Luna County Sheriff’s deputies that she was plugging in her cellular phone charger and lost control of her car when she took her eyes off the road. She was cited for careless driving.

COLUMBUS, New Mexico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers working at the Columbus port of entry seized 201 pounds of marijuana in a pair of drug busts Thursday. Two residents of Deming, New Mexico were taken into custody. The seized drugs have an estimated street value of $160,800. “Thursday was a good day for CBP and a bad day for drug smugglers,” said Robert Reza, CBP Columbus Port Director. “Two significant marijuana loads did not make it to their intended destinations because of the hard work of CBP.” The first seizure of the day was made at approximately 8 a.m. when a GMC pickup truck entered the port from Mexico. A CBP officer at the primary inspection used a “Buster” density meter to inspect the vehicle and received readings consistent with hidden contraband. CBP officers scanned the vehicle with the Z-Portal x-ray system and noted a number of anomalies in the appearance of the truck. CBP drug sniffing dog “Winnie” also searched the vehicle and alerted to the presence of drugs. CBP officers located metal compartments attached to the rims of all four tires of the truck. The compartments were opened revealing bundles of marijuana. The drugs weighed 121 pounds. CBP officers took custody of the driver, 53-year-old Gloria Covarrubia Mendiola of Deming, New Mexico. She was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations agents to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt. The second seizure of the day was made at approximately 5:30 p.m. when a Chevrolet Silverado entered the port from Mexico. A team of CBP officers were performing an enforcement sweep of vehicles waiting in line before the primary inspection booths when CBP drug sniffing dog “Supi” alerted to the vehicle. CBP officers scanned the vehicle with the Z-Portal x-ray system and noted a number of anomalies in the appearance of a propane tank in the truck. CBP officers examined the tank and located a trap door at the bottom of the canister. A total of 75 marijuana-filled bundles weighing 80 pounds were removed from the tank. CBP officers took custody of the driver, 22-year-old Adrian Lopez of Deming, New Mexico. He was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations agents to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt.

(Deming) – An area ranch for troubled youth has settled its lawsuit against the state, agreeing to some oversight. John Krehbiel spoke with owners Scott and Collette Chandler on the air Friday morning about agreement.

Under the agreement signed Friday, the Tierra Blanca Ranch High County Youth Program has agreed to give the Children, Youth and Families Department access to students and their files for the next 12 months.

Previously, the state didn’t oversee programs such as Tierra Blanca.

The ranch also agrees not to use mechanical restraints, to supervise teens placed in segregation and to file incident reports. The Chandlers said they will be meeting the public during the Community Yard Sale that will be held at the Courthouse park March 15th. Persons wanting more information on the Ranch, or to offer support may contact Tierra Blanca Ranch High County Youth Program Post Office Box 1266 Deming, NM 88031. http://www.tierrablancaranch.com

(Deming) — The Deming City Council will meet in special Session Friday morning.Included on the agenda is a public hearing to consider the transfer of a liquor license to Walgreens for use at its new location at 122 North Gold Street. The councilors also will consider a job description for an economic development coordinator – a city position last held by Linda Smrkovsky before the position was absorbed several years ago by Luna County. And there will be three resolutions considered: one for a preliminary engineering report on a sewer collection system and one for a cell expansion of the regional landfill – both of those for applications to the New Mexico Finance Authority for The Colonias Infrastructure Fund, and one for an application and agreement with the New Mexico Department of Transportation to provide Municipal Arterial Program funds for reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gold Street. The meeting is set to begin at 9 a.m. Friday in the council chambers of the John Strand Municipal Building off South Gold. The meeting is open to the public.

(Deming) — Two Deming Dust Devils gymnasts qualified for the state competition to be held this weekend in Albuquerque. The two girls – 9-year-old Maribel Granillo and 8-year-old Kendra Hensley – will compete in four events: vault, floor, beam and bars. The competition will take place at the Albuquerque Gymnastics School, and coach Irma Chacon said they will compete against approximately 40 girls from around the state in each division. To qualify, the gymnasts must have a cumulative score of 31 or better in the four events. Granillo qualified with a cumulative score of 33.1, with a personal-best score of 8.85 in vault. And Hensley qualified for state with a cumulative 31.6, with a personal-best score in vault of 8.8. Chacon said this was the first competitive season for both Granillo and Hensley, but both girls have been active in Dust Devils Gymnastics for several years. Also noteworthy are the personal-best scores of two other Deming Dust Devil Gymnastics Team members: Sarah Kreft had a vault score of 8.4, and Esmeralda Serrano had a floor score of 8.4. Chacon said the competition season began in October. Also coaching the team is Elsa Rodriguez.

** Story Update** Deming Radio News has been informed by Deming Police Chief Gigante that the truck and driver have been located. The Investigation is Continuing. (Deming) – An 11-year-old boy was transported to the hospital by ambulance Wednesday after being struck by a pickup. The boy was riding a bicycle near the northwest entrance to Peppers Supermarket off Florida at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday when he was struck by a green-colored Dodge. The boy sustained injuries to his left arm, left leg, ribs and mouth. The driver of the pickup immediately left the scene of the accident and is being sought by police. A witness described the truck as a 1990s-model green Dodge with faded, chipped paint, factory tires and rims, and non-tinted windows. The driver was described as in his 50s or 60s and wearing a baseball cap. Anyone with information on the driver is encouraged to call the Deming Police Department at 546-3011 or Crime Stoppers at 546-7800, or use TipSoft by anonymously submitting information via text to LUNATIP at CRIMES – or 274637.

(Deming) – Here’s the area crime report: Eric Peeler, age 43, was arrested for shoplifting at Peppers… Ramiro Palomarez, age 32, was arrested on two Magistrate warrants for failure to pay fines… John Munn, age 44, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to appear… Guadalupe Romero, age 36, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines… and Sarah Cordova, age 30, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines. Also… a tire valued at $150 was damaged on a pickup parked off South 12th Street… and two donation jars were taken from a business off East Cedar.

(Deming) – Early voting for the March 4th municipal election ends Friday. Voters may vote weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the John Strand Municipal Building through this Friday, February 28th. Five people are running for mayor. They are: Larry Caldwell, Frank Carter II, Benny Jasso, Barbara Reedy and Shannon Relyea. Council District One incumbent David Sanchez is being challenged by brothers – Arsen Khanbabian and Edward Khanbabian. And three people – Victor Cruz, Christopher Mosier and Michal Rudloff – filed to represent District Two on the city council. On Election Day, voters in district one will vote at Bell Elementary, and voters in district four vote at Chaparral Elementary. Voters in districts two and three will not have a council position on the ballot, but will vote for mayor. Voters in district two vote at Torres Elementary, and voters in district three vote at Memorial Elementary.

KDEM-FM and KOTS-AMare affiliated with the Associated Press news network and carry AP network news, followed by local and state news at the top of the hour, 24 hours a day. We are truly Deming’s “information stations” and the stations Luna County residents depend on for news, hometown happenings, weather, sports and agriculturalinformation.

Persons named on the Crime Report are to be considered innocent until final disposition of the case is made by a court. ____________________________